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Public defenders visit woman dumped in asylum

January 30, 2013 by Eniola Akinkuotu

Ndiomu

The Office of the Public Defender, a department under the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, has visited 40-year-old Toyin Ndiomu, the lady who was dumped in an asylum by her mother for attending an “unconventional” church.

It was learnt that following a publication of Ndiomu story by THE PUNCH on Tuesday, January 29, 2013, the government directed the OPD to investigate the matter and make sure that Ndiomu’s rights were not being infringed upon.

Our correspondent learnt that a team of three people from the OPD subsequently visited Farri Psychiatric Hospital on Tuesday.

Mr. Benjamin Odeh, a lawyer with a human rights group, Project Alert on Violence Against Women, told our correspondent that Ndiomu’s immediate family, the head of the hospital and the OPD held a meeting at the hospital.

Odeh said a representative of the OPD was allowed access to Ndiomu, while the doctor, L.A Farri, said the victim’s health was improving.

He said, “The doctor explained to us that when Ndiomu was brought in two weeks ago, she was not coherent and was labelled an ‘involuntary patient’. However, now that her health has improved and she had gradually come back to her senses, she is now a ‘voluntary patient’.

“Soon after, a representative of the OPD was allowed to go into the ward to see her.”

Meanwhile, it was learnt that the Ndiomu’s family has written a petition against the pastor of Jordan Ministries, Chigbo Ndukwe.

The petition, which was addressed to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2, Lagos is also seeking an order restraining the pastor from having contact with Ndiomu.

A family member, who craved anonymity, told our correspondent on the telephone that Ndiomu’s behaviour changed since she started attending the church a few years ago.

The Information Officer, Western Naval Command, Lt.cmdr Jerry Omodara, said the Nigerian Navy was not involved in the abduction of Ndiomu.

He said, “On the day Ndiomu was seized by her family at Joel Ogunnaike Street, GRA, Ikeja, where she was marking her 40th birthday party, she was bundled by some securitymen whose uniform is similar to the naval uniform.

“Although Ndiomu’s father was a naval officer, it was not naval operatives that accompanied the family to the party.”

When contacted on the telephone, the Director, OPD, Mrs.Omotola Rotimi, confirmed that her agency visited the victim in hospital. She however said she could not state the next line of action.

“I sent some of my people to the hospital but they have not yet briefed me on the matter. When they brief me, we’ll know what next to do,” she said.

Yeye dey smell…. Why will a 40 year old woman need her family to define what she can do and where she can go? I suspect the family is up to something here. From the reports, it sounds she is comfortable, has her business, separated/divorced, and likely without matured children? All put together, the whole thing is sounding and looking like one of the Yoruba home video plots…. Good thing that independent lawyers have now stepped in!

Anon

Stranger than fiction. Fake pastors and the way they take advantage of members esp women